Declan Rice leads FIVE stars in pulling out of England duty – with just two new players called up – as Thomas Tuchel faces exodus after his stern warning
Declan Rice is the new big name among a five-man England exodus – days after Thomas Tuchel warned his players of a need to ‘step up’ to prove their worth after the World Cup.
Rice, Cole Palmer, Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford and Tino Livramento have all now pulled out of Tuchel’s squad – with Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White and James Garner of Everton the only replacements.
Arsenal midfielder Rice played the full 90 minutes of their defeat by Brighton on Saturday but has been declared unavailable for England. The Gunners are yet to offer any other details on his injury.
Chelsea sources say Palmer has a muscular injury, while Manchester United boss Michael Carrick said Rashford had an ‘issue’ after their weekend draw with Fulham. Mainoo was also assessed over an injury today.
Livramento was forced to pull out of the World Cup squad with a calf injury, did not play for Newcastle United at the weekend and is yet to start a game this season.
England are due to face 2026 World Cup winners Spain first, before two games against Czechia and another versus Croatia. Tuchel is scheduled to speak this Friday, when he will be able to offer his opinion on losing five players.
Declan Rice has been removed from the England squad for their upcoming internationals
Cole Palmer has pulled out of the England squad with a small injury and to manage his work load after an injury-hit season last campaign
Tuchel previously warned Palmer, who was left at home for the World Cup, that he had a ‘point to prove’ and needed ‘to step up’ to ‘keep his shirt and justify the nomination’.
He added: ‘So now it is a new competition. Some players, some positions, have more injuries. Some have less injuries. Cole has his starts that he always had but he has his numbers back – he has his assists back, he has decisive goals back – so that is why he is in the squad.’
Gibbs-White, 26, had been on holiday with his family in Dubai after playing in the defeat by Coventry on Saturday but is immediately returning to answer England’s call.
Everton midfielder Garner is selected ahead of Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.
Tuchel cited having too many attacking midfielders to include them all as the reason for Gibbs-White’s initial omission.
‘It makes no sense to nominate three, four, five No 10s,’ Tuchel said. ‘It just does not help anyone.
Manchester United duo Kobbie Mainoo (left) and Marcus Rashford (right) have also withdrawn
Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White has been called up in place of the midfielder – leaving his family holiday in Dubai to answer his country’s call
‘We can see the form he is in. He ended the season very strongly and is a key player for Forest. We can see him stepping up now.’
Rashford has been battling a hip issue since the World Cup. He started Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Fulham on Sunday but the injury needs management.
Mainoo is also struggling with an issue. The 21-year-old was in the squad at the World Cup, but did not play a single minute.
